Counting device



6. PICKA'RD, JR

COUNTING DEVICE June 17, 1947.

Filed April 13, 1946 IN V EN TOR. 6L e/v/v R lC/(ARQ JR.

Patented June 17, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COUNTING DEVICE Glenn Rickard, Jr., Flint, Mich.

Application April 13, 1946, Serial No. 662,051

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for counting capsules, pills, tablets, or any other similar shaped articles that are capable of rolling or sliding; the counting and discharging of the articles being done without being touched by the hands of the operator.

An object of my improvement is to provide a simple, durable, inexpensive, yet effective sanitary device for such purposes.

Another object is to provide simple means whereby one device may be adapted for counting either large or small articles.

Another object is to provide means for quickly and easily discharging all the counted articles from the counting cells by simultaneously bringing adjustable bottoms of the cells up flush with the top edges of the cells, to provide a relatively smooth surface over which all the counted articles can be poured at once out of the container.

A further object is to provide a simple means for masking off a predetermined number of the cells in the container, in order to accurately count out a smaller number of pieces each time.

Another object is to provide such a masking device with means for scooping up from the container and removing Whatever surplus articles may be present in order to leave only counted articles in the container just prior to discharging the counted quantity.

With the foregoing and certain other objects in view which will appear later in the specification, my invention comprises the devices described and claimed and the equivalents thereof.

Various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my claimed invention.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a container embodying my improvement;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, partly broken away, showing the employment of an auxiliary masking plate and showing in general the relationship of the open-ended grille to the vertically movable base;

Fig. 3 is a diagram View, partly in section, showing a preferred means for adjusting the position of the base with respect to the grille for counting small size articles;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of a part of the base and a cell showing the handling of a larger size article in counting; and

Fig. 5 is a similar detail view, showing the relationship of grille and base when the counted articles are ready to be poured and rolled from the container.

My device comprises a container frame with a grille that divides the frame into an upper compartment and a lower compartment. pable of up and down movement is situated in the lower compartment beneath the grille, and carries on its upper face individual parts, each of which projects into a cell of the grille. When the base is adjusted up or to a given vertical position it serves to regulate the capacity of each cell so as to hold one only large or small article, such as pills or capsules, to be counted.

Specifically, the frame in the preferred form shown comprises side walls I, and a grille which presents a predetermined number of individual cells, arranged in honeycomb formation and open at top and bottom. Numeral 2 designates the upper edges of the cells. Each cell has side walls 3, 4, of appropriate depth, 5, to contain one material piece, 6 or 6a, to be dispensed by the apparatus (Figs. 3, 4, 5). That is, the depth 5 will not accommodate two pieces of either size, when properly adjusted for depth.

Upwardly projecting parts 1 on the vertically adjustable base 8 can be set at predetermined heights in the cells by an adjusting means typified in Fig. 3.

Numeral 9 designates a pin Which can be projected through the wall I into the lower compartment at whatever height is desired, holes being provided in the walls I to receive the pin 9, as shown. Preferably pin 9 is mounted on a spring arm l9 which may be pivotally secured to wall I.

To limit the extent of up-and-down movement of projections I and base 8, a stop pin is secured to the base and projects slidingly in a Vertical guiding slot in the side wall I, as shown at H, Figs. 1 and 3.

All necessary adjustments of parts 1 and 8 to accommodate pieces of different sizes can be made by moving the base 8 up or down and appropri-' ately inserting the pins 9 at the opposite sides of the frame so as to support the base 8 in the desired position. When the base is pushed up by hand to its highest position the top faces of the parts I will be substantially flush with the upper edges 2 of the cells, as shown in Fig. 5 in which position the top faces of the grille serve as a floor from which the counted pieces can be poured freely and easily by merely tiltin the container. If it is desired to employ for a given operation of counting, say, only half of the cells, there is A base caused in combination with the structure features above described a plate 12, preferably of proper size to cover or mask a fractional part of the total number of cells. As is shown in Fig. 2, the plate covers fifty of the total one hundred cells. The plate I2 is loose and can be set slidingly on the top edges of the fifty cells, as shown, with its beveled edge l3 directed toward the uncovered cells. To slide the plate forward a knob I4 is provided. A fence I5 is fixed to the plate [2, as shown in Fig. 2.

In operation, assuming that small articles 6a, Figs. 3 and 5, are to be counted in lots of, say, fifty, and assuming that the container, Fig. 1', has a capacity for one hundred articles, plate I2 is put into the position shown in Fig. 2, covering fifty cells. Part E is located as in Fig. 3. A quantity of the pieces 6a is poured into the upper com partment. The container is shaken or slightly jolted. so that the fifty cells are occupied each by one article. Then the plate .12 is slidforward by its knob M. The fence l5 scoops up any surplus pieces that may remain on the counted pieces, and they are removed by sliding the plate 12 forward across the upper compartment and then lifting the plate and surplus articles out of the frame.

If it is desired. to count one hundred of the pieces 6a the plate i2 is removed and all the cells are filled. The plate and fence l5 are then used to scoop up and remove surplus pieces, leaving exactly one hundred cells filled.

To empty counted pieces from the container the base 8 is pushed up by hand to the position in Fig. 5, so as to bring the top faces of the parts I flush with the top edges 2 of the cells, as previously alluded'to. All counted pieces can then be poured. out of the container.

If larger pieces, Fig. 4, are to be counted, instead of the smaller ones 6a, the same operation is performed, but for that purpose the stop or supporting pins 9 are set in the position indicated by the dotted leader line at 9 in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that, by the means described, I have greatly improved the facility of counting articles of spherical, spheroidal, or similar shapes and of various sizes. Predetermined lots or fractions 4 thereof, up to the capacity of the apparatus, can be counted out by apparatus that is relatively simple and inexpensive. Also it is evident that my device avoids handling of the goods by hand in the counting and in the filling and delivering operations.

That is an important factor in retail dispensing of pharmaceutical articles, such as vitamin pills, capsules, tablets and the like, when being dispensed at retail from bulk stock. My apparatus is especially useful by rendering it unnecessary to count pieces while handling them by hand. The sanitary advantages of my device for such uses will be readily appreciated.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a counting device of the class described the combination of a container having upright side walls; a grille dividing the container horizontally into an upper and a lower compartment; a set of upwardly projecting article-supporting parts in register with cells of said grille and having upper end portions adjustable therein; a vertically movable base member carrying said projecting parts; and stop means for adjustably supporting said projecting parts at predetermined heights in said cells.

2. In a counting device of the class described the combination of a container; a grille comprising open vertical-walled cells and dividing the container horizontally into an upper and a lower compartment; a set of upwardly projecting article-supporting projections adapted to telescope with said cells and having upper face portions adjustably positioned therein; and stop means for supporting said projecting parts at predetermined heights in said cells.

3. In a counting device of the class described the combination of a container; at grille dividing the container horizontally into an upper and a lower compartment; said grille formed of cells of depth greater than the height of the articles to be counted; a set of upwardly projecting article-supporting parts having. upper end portions adjustable therein; and stop means adapted to adjustably support such projecting parts at predetermined heights in said cells.

' GLENN RICKARD, JR. 

